This article was co-authored by Tom Blake. Tom Blake manages the bartending blog, craftybartending.com. He has been a bartender since 2012 and has written a book named The Bartender's Field Manual.

There are 13 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page.

A hot toddy can be a warm pick-me-up drink on a cold day. Historically, they've been used to ease throat and chest pain during colds, or as a relaxing beverage before bedtime.[1] You can make a classic hot toddy, or tailor it to your personal preferences by choosing a base liquid, an alcohol, and the flavorings that best suit your palate.

Ingredients

Classic Hot Toddy

2 fluid ounces (59 mL) of Scotch

0.5 fluid ounces (15 mL) of fresh lemon juice

1 tablespoon (15 mL) of honey

0.5 fluid ounces (15 mL) of simple syrup

3 dried cloves

4 fluid ounces (120 ml) of boiling water

1 lemon wedge

1 cinnamon stick

Steps

Method1

Making a Classic Hot Toddy

1

Make simple syrup. Put 1 cup (240 mL) of water in a small saucepan, add 1 cup (225 g) of granulated white sugar, and stir the ingredients together. Heat the mixture over medium-high heat until it comes to a boil. Turn the heat to low and let the mixture simmer for about 3 minutes, or until it becomes clear, stirring occasionally. Remove the pan from heat and allow the mixture to cool.[2]

You can store excess simple syrup in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 1 month.

If you only want enough syrup for a single drink, use less sugar and water but be sure to keep the ratios equal.

2

Boil 4 fluid ounces (120 ml) of water and preheat your mug. Put 4 fluid ounces (120 ml) of water in a small saucepan and heat it over high heat until it comes to a boil. In the meantime, heat an Irish coffee glass in the microwave for about 1 minute.[3]

If you don't have an Irish coffee glass, a microwave-safe mug will work just as well.

Fill the glass with boiling water and stir it. Top up the glass with the boiling water, taking care not to burn yourself. Stir the mixture until the honey dissolves and all the ingredients are well blended.[5]

5

Garnish the drink and enjoy! Add 1 cinnamon stick and 1 lemon wedge to the glass. Then, find a cozy spot to relax and sip on your hot toddy.[6]

Method2

Picking a Base Liquid

1

Start with hot water. You will need approximately one cup of a hot liquid as the base of your drink. Traditionally, a hot toddy is made with a base of hot water. This is probably the easiest liquid to use, as you can simply heat water in a kettle or pan on the stove.

Using hot water, as opposed to a flavored liquid, does not mean that your toddy will be flavorless. It just means that the flavors you add to the drink will be stronger and more recognizable in the final drink.[7]

2

Use tea. Add a herbal tea bag to your hot water. This will give your hot toddy more flavor and it will help your throat, if you are drinking your hot toddy to ease a cold or flu.

Any type of tea will work. If you like a lot of flavor, consider using a bolder tea, such as a spiced blend like chai. This will add tremendously to the flavor.[8]

Remember that a lot of teas have caffeine. If you want to go to sleep soon after drinking your toddy, be sure to get an herbal tea instead of one that is caffeinated.[9]

3

Opt for hot apple cider. Hot cider is a great base for a hot toddy. It is flavorful and sweet, and will add a lot of character to your drink.

Hot cider is best heated in a small saucepan on very low heat. You can also warm it in the glass you are using for your drink in a microwave. Just be careful, as the glass is likely to get very hot in a microwave.

4

Choose an alternate base. Because there is no strict recipe for a hot toddy, you can really choose any base liquid that is usually drunk warm. For example, you can use coffee or hot chocolate as the base for your drink.

Remember that you can make your hot toddy any way you want. If you don't like the traditional version, try something new!

Method3

Adding Spirits

1

Add whisky or brandy to your glass. Traditionally, a hot toddy is made with whiskey or brandy, or a combination of the two. Add a small (or generous) amount and gently stir to mix ingredients.[10]

What type of whisky or brandy you use is up to you.

Add the amount of whisky or brandy you like. If you like a weak drink, add less than an ounce. If you like a strong drink, add an ounce and a half.

2

Try adding rum or spiced rum. If you don't like the flavor of whisky or brandy, try a little rum. Use the same amount of liquor as you would if using the other spirits.

The spices in spiced rum in particular go very well in a hot toddy.

3

Consider adding additional liqueurs or flavored spirits. Bartenders are known to add a wide variety of spirits to the traditional hot toddy mixture. This can vary greatly, from replacing the main liquor, with gin for example, to adding a splash of Campari or some other liqueur to add complexity to the flavor.

Method4

Flavoring the Drink

1

Add citrus. Most hot toddy have lemon juice in them. You can either squeeze some lemon juice into the glass or you can simply throw in a slice of lemon, which can serve as a garnish and flavoring. If you would like to put a twist on the traditional recipe, consider using an additional form of citrus, such as orange juice, to give your drink some extra flavor.

The citrus adds a little Vitamin C to your drink, so that may add to its benefits for those fighting a cold.[11]

2

Stir in a sweetener. Honey is traditionally used to sweeten a hot toddy. Take a tablespoon of honey and stir it into the warm liquid already in the glass. It will dissolve quickly, adding a nice sweetness to your drink.

If you don't have honey, you can use sugar to sweeten your drink. Sugar won't add as much flavor, however, as honey will.

3

Spice the drink. A hot toddy is traditionally spiced with cinnamon, usually by putting a whole cinnamon stick right into the glass. You can also add additional spices that complement the cinnamon, such as nutmeg or cloves, which adds to the drinks wintery, aromatic flavor.

Consider adding a splash of bitters to your drink. Bitters are tinctures made from flavorful plants. When you add them to a drink, they create a more complex and interesting flavor.[12]

You can even make a pouch of your favourite sweet spices using a square of cheesecloth and a small length of butchers twine. Fill it with a selection of cinnamon sticks, allspice, star anise, cloves, or whatever good mulling spices you have available.

Alternatively, you can used fresh ground cinnamon and nutmeg, if you don't mind it in your drink.

Put the spices in the cup while the liquid is very hot. This will help to bring out their flavor.